A STATE-of-the-art centre for children with special educational needs has opened at a Basildon school, helped by "tireless" fundraising from two mums.

Families and staff at Lee Chapel Primary School & Nursery, Basildon, were joined by Father Christmas and his elves for the official unveiling of the £200,000 hub on Friday, 21 November.

Once funding was approved for the building, mums Danielle Trimmer and Natalie Down took on the challenge of obtaining the sensory equipment needed to fill it. Alongside fundraising at the school and community, charity Magic Makers donated £2,500 in equipment.

Speaking at the unveiling, Danielle, 35, said: "Seeing our SEN children finally in a safe, modern and truly nurturing space is nothing short of life-changing.

"After lots of knockbacks, the support we got from Magic Makers gave us the energy to keep going. Without their support, we would have given up.

"Natalie and I have worked tirelessly to raise funds for this equipment, but none of it would have been possible without the community's incredible generosity. I'm deeply grateful for their support and belief in our children."

Danielle says her five-year-old son Ollee will benefit first-hand from the new centre.

She added: "Knowing children like Ollee now have the space they deserve fills me with overwhelming pride and gratitude."

Celebration - Magic Makers' Debbie Bowerman joined an elf, Natalie Down, Danielle Trimmer, Ollee Trimmer, and Father Christmas for the ribbon cutting

Headteacher Sue Jackson described creating the new facility as her "hardest journey" in 26 years at the school, which has more than 1,000 pupils.

She recalled: "Getting this provision to support the SEN community has been the hardest challenge ever. But it needed to be the best it could be."

Having made plans to build the centre, Mrs Jackson was hospitalised with appendicitis.

She reached out to Danielle and Natalie for help.

She added: "It just goes to show we really are a family at Lee Chapel."

Cutting the ribbon with Santa on Friday was Debbie Bowerman, charity director at Magic Makers.

Debbie said: "It's so lovely to be part of this brilliant new facility, which we hope will help so many children with additional needs feel supported and comfortable."